A flag showing loyalist killer Michael Stone was put up near Holy Cross Girls' School in north Belfast in a "deliberate attempt to provoke and intimidate", Sinn Féin has said.
It is understood the flag, showing an image of Stone with his hands raised, was put up along with several Rangers flags around Ardoyne Road early yesterday morning.
The Stone flag, which included the slogan 'Hands up if you're going to be sectarian today', was taken down several hours later.
Holy Cross Girls' School was the focus of bitter loyalist protests in 2001 and 2002. The protests, which attempted to stop young girls from going to school, prompted headlines across the world.
Stone, a former UDA member who was convicted of three murders, was released under the Good Friday Agreement in 2000.
In 2006, he tried to storm Parliament Buildings and was later convicted of attempting to murder Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams.
He was released from prison on parole in January this year.
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said he was appalled by the flag.
"People will remember that this is the girls' primary school that was blockaded by loyalists causing huge and lasting stress to children and the community," he said.
"This is a deliberate attempt to provoke and intimidate local residents. This community has come through too much to be intimidated by these criminal elements and hate crimes.
"There is no place in society for this type of activity."
